Buoy or fog-signal



(No Model.)

H. E. HODGSON.

BUOY OR FOG SIGNAL.

No. 460,136. Patented Sept. 29, 1891. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT E. HODGSON, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

BUOY OR FOG-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,136, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application filed November 20, 1890. $erial No. 372,064. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. HODGSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buoys orFog-Signals, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of buoys by whichaudible dangersignals are transmitted to approaching vessels and crafts.

Heretofore buoys have been used which have bells so mounted upon themthat the ac tion of the Waves causes the buoy to rock and the clapper tostrike against the bell, which gives forth a warning peal; but it willbe readily seen that unless the waves are of considerable height thebuoy will not rock or yaw enough to cause the clapper to swing andstrike against the bell, so that a buoy of this kind is useless inharbors and rivers when the water is comparatively smooth. By my devicethese difficulties are surmounted, for Waves are not required to causethe bell to sound, as the tide or current acts with sufficient force.

The construction and operation of my invention will be hereinafter fullyset forth and described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of my buoy. Fig. 2 is a sideView. Fig. 3 is a top plan View. Fig. at is a section on line area, Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the wings or blades. Fig. 6 is amodified form of buoy.

Referring to the drawings, the buoy is represented as a whole by A, itbeing of a cylindrical shape with a conical end B, although any buoy nowcommonly in use which will preslent the least friction to the water maybe use To the conical end B is secured, by means of a swivel-connectiona, the holder 0, the other end of which is secured to the river-bed inany suitable way, but, as shown in the drawings, by an anchor D. Theholder 0 may be a chain or cable or a metallic rod, for I do not limitmyself to any particular means for anchoring the float. The buoy floatswith the tide as far as the holder will permit and lies in a positioninclined with the course of the tide or current.

To the sides of the float or buoy are adjustably hinged wings or bladesE, having stops 1), which bear against the sides of the buoy when thewings are extended. It will be seen that the wings can lie in either oftwo positions, either in a plane tangential to the cylindrical portionof the buoy or in planes passing vertically through the central lines ofthe buoy, the stops 1) preventing the said wings or blades from swingingentirely around.

On the top of the buoy is secured a hell or gong F, held in place bybrace-rods F. The strikers or clappers G G are made, preferably, ofspring motel, and have at one end weights or striker-heads 0,0. Thestrikers are pivoted a short distance from theirv opposite ends 0 c (andit will be also noticed that the changes of the direction of the flow ofthe tide make no difference in the rotation of the buoy, as it alwaysrotates practically uniformly in the same direction) to studs 0 c,secured to the top of the buoy, the movement of the strikers beinglimited by means of pins or guideways d (1. Knowing that the top of thebuoy is inclined, it will be readily seen that when the striker islifted and let fall the momentum of the striker-head 0 will cause it tostrike the gong or bell, the resiliency of the spring metal causing itto rebound and assume a position a short distance therefrom.

I do not limit myself to this exact mode of ringing the gong or bell, as1 may use a clapper hung to the bell and so pivoted that it may swing ina certain number of directions, or I may use a ball of metal running ingrooves and striking the bell as it rolls to and fro, for it isimmaterial how the bell is rung.

It will be readily understood from the drawings and description how thebuoy operates. Assuming that the tide or current is running in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 1, (the buoy being of course inclined inthe same direction,) the water rushing past forces itself between thebuoy and the wings or blades on one side of the buoy and compels thewings to assume their extended positions. Then the buoy or float beinganchored, it is turned partly around and the next blades are forced outby the tide, thus securing a practically uniform rotation. As soon as awing or blade gets to a position parallel to the course of the currentor tide and begins to swing fart-her around it returns to its firstposition and offers no frictional surface or obstruction to the flow ofthe water. Thus it is obvious that a perpetual rotation is insured aslong as the tide or current runs. As the buoy rotates, the strikers orclappers are carried up until they project beyond the center of gravity,when they will fall and strike against the bell, this operation beingcontinued as long as the buoy rotates. Any number of strikers may beused which willnot interfere with each other, though two willsufficiently answer all purposes. One advantage of using a buoy of thisdescription is that the speed of the current can be readily ascertainedby noting the intervals between the peals of the bell, for if thecurrent is running swiftly the intervals will be of short duration, andvice versa.

In Fig. 6 a modification is shown in which the wings or blades arerigidly secured to the sides of the buoy. The buoy in this case ispreferably of a conical shape and has the anchor-ch ain swiveled to itsapex. The wings or blades are somewhat similar to the blades clinedposition, the bell and strikers being mounted and the buoy rotating insubstantially the same way as the one hereinbefore described.

I do not wish to be understood to limit myself to the exact constructionshown and described herein, as any one skilled in the art may make manymodifications without de-- parting from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim is- 1. In a rotating buoy having means, substantially asdescribed, therein or connected- The buoy is not heavily ballasted, andconsequently will float in an intherewith to engage with the water,whereby the water flowing continuously in either direction causes therotation of the buoy.

2. A rotating bell-buoy having wings or blades extending laterally inopposite directions and engaging with the water, whereby the continuousflow of the water causes the rotation of said buoy, substantially as setforth.

3. A bell-buoy having swinging wings or blades secured to its sides,engaging with the water, whereby said buoy is rotated, substantially asset forth.

4. A buoy having suitable means connected therewith and engaging withthe Water, whereby the water flowing continuously in either directioncauses the rotation of the buoy, a bell mounted thereon, and means forringing said Abel-l, substantially as described.

5. A buoy having suitable means connected therewithand engaging with'theWater, whereby the continuous flow of the water in either directioncauses the rotation of the buoy, a bell mounted thereon, and one or morestrikers for ringing said bell, substantially as described.

6. A buoy having a bell mounted thereon, means for ringing said bell,and swinging wingsadj ustably secured to the sides thereof and adaptedto engage with the Water, whereby said buoy is rotated, substantially asset forth.

7. The combination, with a buoy-holder C and thebell, ofthecon-tinnously-rotatingbuoy,

carrying the bell and swiveled to said holder 0, substantially as setforth.

8. The combination, with the holder (1, of the continuously rotatingbuoy, swiveled loosely to said holder 0, andan intermi-ttinglyactingsignaling device supported upon said buoy, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT E. IIODGSON.

Witnesses:

.IOHANNA YOUNG, MARCUS B. MAY.

